Reviews
If you've spent any time on this website, you know we love music. This got us thinking! Of the songs we love, which ones are the best. Instead of trying to decide among ourselves, we decided to open it up to our readers. So, watch the two videos below and let us know which one you like better in the comments below. You can also vote via our Facebook Page or Twitter.
Kings of Leon "Last Mile Home"
Death Cab for Cutie "Little Wanderer"
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
The first "King Kong" movie was released on March 7, 1933. Since then, we've been given 8 movies all of which have been reimagined to take advantage of the latest in filmmaking technology. My favorite version is Peter Jackon's 2005 "King Kong." Jackson of "Lord of the Rings" fame gave us a deeper, more human, noir Kong. The storytelling, graphics, and writing finally came together to produce magic. This, of course, brings us to the latest iteration, "Kong: Skull Island."
Without a doubt, "Kong: Skull Island" is the worst Kong movie ever made. In terms of graphics, there is no contest. This movie takes advantage of every piece of the latest technology. Somewhere along the way, though, it forgets you also need a script people can tolerate, dialogue that doesn't make you laugh out loud at inappropriate times, and a character with at least one redeeming quality. Instead, Kong makes the mistake of trying to give us an origin tale no one wanted by way of a straight line survive and escape tale. We get no character development. We aren't made to care for anyone beyond a superficial level. We see no reason to invest emotionally. Instead, we are left to swallow a cornucopia of computer animated graphics. Well, friends, this film proves even pretty cars can't go far without an engine people want to sit behind.
I'll close on this point. "Kong: Skull Island" possesses some of the worst written dialogue I have encountered in the last 12 months. In fact, I swear some of Samuel L. Jackson's lines were ripped straight from the pages of "Snakes on a Plane." But who knows, Mr. Jackson seems to like to replay that character about every other film. Beyond that, much of the dialogue doesn't make sense for the time and place where this film is held. It is also overly dramatic in spots and funny in the wrong places. Seriously, there were times I thought, I wish the damn ape would step on them all and end this. Alas, my wish wasn't granted and I was left to write a half angry critique. Such is life!
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
If you've spent any time on this website, you know we love music. This got us thinking! Of the songs we love, which ones are the best. Instead of trying to decide among ourselves, we decided to open it up to our readers. So, watch the two videos below and let us know which one you like better in the comments below. You can also vote via our Facebook Page or Twitter.
Alabama Shakes "I Found You"
Eddie Vedder "More Than You Know"
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
When I was a kid, my brother's and I would rise before the sun and watch Saturday morning cartoons. Luckily for our parents, it kept us entertained and quite for a few hours while they got some much-needed sleep. Pretty quickly, we fell head over heels for one particular cartoon; X-Men. It was our first introduction to the comic book series that had been entertaining readers for decades. Naturally, we all fell in love with Wolverine. He was defiant, uncouth, and possessed a mysterious backstory that kept us begging for more. As we grew up, the cartoons and comic book movies of our youth were becoming movies. It didn't take long to get X-Men and Wolverine on the big screen. After 9 X-Men movies, most of which featured Wolverine, I was left with an uneasy feeling. After all this time, I never got the Wolverine story I wanted. I wanted something gritty, real, and focused. With "Logan," my wish was granted.
"Logan" surpassed my expectations. In no way, shape, or form is this a movie for children. The language is foul, the violence gory, and the ending troubling, but for us adults who grew up on Saturday morning cartoons, this film is the perfect movie. It does something the other movies in the franchise failed to do; they made the X-Men relateable. In old age, we see Professor X succumbing to his degrading mental health and Logan's ability to heal is deteriorating before our eyes. In their frail state, we see humanly begins much like us. Their powers are fading and death seems closer than ever.
"Logan" and all of Christopher Nolan's Batman movies should be a clarion call for other comic book movies. These films have connected with audiences because we saw ourselves in them. The dialogue seems like our conversations. The torment seems relatable. The edge of death seems possible. Now, don't get me wrong, I will show up for every version of people with mystical powers blow up Manhattan, but I enter each and every one of those theaters knowing I will walk out less than satisfied. I will walk away wanting more from the stories of my childhood. I will walk away wanting a movie like "Logan."
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
If you've spent any time on this website, you know we love music. This got us thinking! Of the songs we love, which ones are the best. Instead of trying to decide among ourselves, we decided to open it up to our readers. So, watch the two videos below and let us know which one you like better in the comments below. You can also vote via our Facebook Page or Twitter.
David Ramirez "Communion"
Death Cab for Cutie "Little Wanderer"
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
If you've spent any time on this website, you know we love music. This got us thinking! Of the songs we love, which ones are the best. Instead of trying to decide among ourselves, we decided to open it up to our readers. So, watch the two videos below and let us know which one you like better in the comments below. You can also vote via our Facebook Page or Twitter.
Ryan Adams "Do You Still Love Me?"
Dave Matthews Band "Time Bomb"
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
If you've spent any time on this website, you know we love music. This got us thinking! Of the songs we love, which ones are the best. Instead of trying to decide among ourselves, we decided to open it up to our readers. So, watch the two videos below and let us know which one you like better in the comments below. You can also vote via our Facebook Page or Twitter.
Death Cab for Cutie "Little Wanderer"
Anchor+Bell "Was It You"
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
If you've spent any time on this website, you know we love music. This got us thinking! Of the songs we love, which ones are the best. Instead of trying to decide among ourselves, we decided to open it up to our readers. So, watch the two videos below and let us know which one you like better in the comments below. You can also vote via our Facebook Page or Twitter.
Kings of Leon "Last Mile Home"
Humming House "My Love"
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
If you've spent any time on this website, you know we love music. This got us thinking! Of the songs we love, which ones are the best. Instead of trying to decide among ourselves, we decided to open it up to our readers. So, watch the two videos below and let us know which one you like better in the comments below. You can also vote via our Facebook Page or Twitter.
Eddie Vedder "More Than You Know"
Mumford & Sons "Babel"
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
If you've spent any time on this website, you know we love music. This got us thinking! Of the songs we love, which ones are the best. Instead of trying to decide amongst ourselves, we decided to open it up to our readers. So, watch the two videos below and let us know which one you like better in the comments below. You can also vote via our Facebook Page or Twitter.
Alabama Shakes "I Found You"
Band of Horses "Cigarettes, Wedding Bands"
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
